White Papers

Government Initiatives are Leading to Financial Uncertainty for Hospitals

Throughout 2012, uncertainty has been the only thing certain about the financial impact on hospitals of a wide array of government initiatives, laws, programs, and legal wrangling. Some are due to the Affordable Care Act, but many date back to legislation passed in 2008 and 2009 and as far back as 2005. They relate to policies and regulations that tie reimbursement directly to the quality of care provided by hospitals and attempt to streamline the costs of healthcare by mandating the adoption of new technology and approaches related to electronic health records. This paper provides a brief overview of some of the most significant government issues having an impact on healthcare institutions during the coming months and years—issues that will need to be monitored by hospital management for the foreseeable future. It includes: